When and How Do Teams Decide to Promote Prospects?

After having dealt with several members of the Blue Jays front office in a series of email responses over the past few years, and having walked through the maze of workspaces that comprises the nerve centre of the organization at the Rogers Centre, one thing is obvious:  this is a highly literate group.  Stacks of …

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An Open Letter to Mark Shapiro and Ross Atkins

Dear Mark and Ross: Hi Guys.  Loved Jaysfest this winter. Look, you both know it, I know it, and even the bandwagon fans on Facebook know it.  This season had considerable promise and started well, but with the starting rotation in shambles and the bullpen already showing the signs of overuse and this season about …

Blue Jays MLB Draft Update

With the MLB draft less than a month away, Crosscheckers and Scouting Directors are criss-crossing the country, getting more detailed looks at players recommended by Area Scouts. Auburn's Casey Mize has had a dazzling spring, and while he's not the consensus #1 pick, he should be headed to the Tigers. With their first pick at …

Is It Time to Be Concerned About Bo?

An 0-4 in the first game of New Hampshire's doubleheader with the Nationals' Harrisburg affiliate yesterday dropped Bo Bichette's average for the season to .264.  He struck out 3 times (fanning 6 times in 14 ABs in the series against the Senators), and is hitting .194 over his last 10 games. After leading the minor …

Dillon Fans 10 in First AAA Start

The Buffalo Bisons pitching staff has been beset by major league call-ups, which meant that RHP Justin Dillon, a 10th round pick last June recently promoted from Dunedin, was pressed into duty as a starter yesterday. Dillon is described as a "big bodied finesse Pitcher (6'3"/225)," who fell to the Blue Jays in the draft …

Blue Jays, Bisons Renew PDC

The Blue Jays and their AAA affiliate Buffalo announced a two-year renewal of their Player Development Contract earlier this week. The Bisons have been a Toronto affiliate since 2013, and the partnership has proven very successful.  Buffalo has a lengthy baseball history dating back to 1877.  Forbes listed the Bisons as the 15th most valuable minor league …

Short Stop Becoming A Blue Jays Position of Strength

Last year, with the emergence of Danny Jansen, the acquisition at the previous year's trade deadline of Reese McGuire, and the drafting of Hagen Danner and Riley Adams, Catching became the deepest position in the Blue Jays organization. This year, the team has built on that depth at Short Stop. Leading the way is Bo …

Pearson Hit by Line Drive in 2018 Debut

Well, that didn't last long.... Nate Pearson - Toronto Blue Jays - 2018 FSL Debut - May 7, 2018: https://t.co/BMJ7eEzQEV via @YouTube — Jason Woodell (@JasonAtTheGame) May 8, 2018 Held back for a month because of an oblique issue, the top pitching prospect had one Extended start under his belt before pitching in a game …

Ryan Borucki Rounding Into Form

Buffalo LHP Ryan Borucki may not be the best Pitching prospect in the Blue Jays organization, but he's closest to MLB-ready at the moment. Borucki made his first start of the year on April 10th, but because of the poor spring weather that settled in over the Northeast, he didn't take the mound again until …

When is it time to Promote a Prospect?

You can't see it unless you're there, but there is a wide array of data being collected at each and every minor league game.  Behind home plate sit scouts with notebooks and radar guns, as well as last night's Pitcher, who is charting pitches.  Further up, somewhere in the press box level is a Trackman …